Bears’ line continues to shine

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears are 2-0 this preseason after pulling off a come-from-behind 20-19 win over the Jaguars in Soldier Field on Thursday night.

However the coaching staff focused on the many mistakes that led to the team trailing 13-0 early. A lack of pressure up front, coverage breakdowns from both the first- and second-team defensive backs, and mental as well as physical errors on just about every special teams unit.

“A lot of bad things happened to the Bears tonight,” second-year head coach Marc Trestman said. “But they played with a sense of urgency out there. They overcame a lot of adversity.”

They just didn’t do it much when the first and second units were on the field against a Jacksonville team that won six games combined the past two seasons. The Jabuars outgained Chicago 134-8 in the first quarter and put together five scoring drives by the midway point of the third quarter.

But one unit that used to top the Bears’ problem list has carried its momentum from last season right into this year. Regardless of who sits out and which grouping is on the field, the Bears have seemingly turned their offensive line weaknesses into a strength.

“I think we have a lot of depth up there,” right guard Kyle Long said after getting his first preseason snaps against the Jags. “And I think it showed out there, even in the fourth quarter.”

Quarterback Jay Cutler, who has run two series in each of the first two exhibition games, has been sacked just once in his short time on the field, and the Bears have allowed just two total sacks over the first two games.

For a team that led the league in sacks allowed for a three-year stretch (149 from 2010-2012), the improvement did not go unnoticed.

“I think the offensive line is playing at a really high level,” said Cutler, who has led the offense to a three-and-out followed by a touchdown drive in both games. “The offensive line gave me a lot of time.”

Cutler was 7-for-9 for 75 yards Thursday, and never was his protection more evident than on his 4-yard TD pass to Brandon Marshall. Cutler hung in the pocket for about five seconds, surveying the field and moving through his progressions in comfort.

“I came back to ‘B’ and just had to wait for him to find an opening,” Cutler said. “I guess with that offensive line, anybody could have stood back there.”

After surrendering just 30 sacks last season, fourth fewest in the league, the grouping of center Roberto Garza, guards Long and Matt Slauson and tackles Jordan Mills and Jermon Bushrod return, however Long and Mills have missed chunks of training camp with injuries and illnesses, with Mills still wearing a walking boot Thursday while sitting out the entire game.

Even with their key backup, former Saint Brian de la Puente, also sitting out with a knee injury, the Bears provided solid protection throughout the game. Free agent acquisition tackle Michael Ola stepped in with the first team and helped control the Jags, and the backups that included Taylor Boggs, Ryan Groy, Dylan Gandy, Charles Leno, Dennis Roland and James Brown all did their jobs as well.

The lone setback for the line so far: The Bears have gained under three yards per carry on the ground.

“We feel strongly that we’re going to be able to run the ball effectively,” Trestman said. “But we have not done that in the first two editions of the preseason.”